os snowleopard

What OS is on the computer now? Or do you need the original install disk? Apple has downloadable installers for Snow Leopard:

Download Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update v.1.1

Lion

Download OS X Lion Update 10.7.5 (Client Combo)

and Mountain Lion:

Mac OS X Mountain Lion Installer

All of which should be compatible with a 2009 Mac Mini. But they do require previous OS versions.

Maybe still on Amazon or Ebay. Not sold by Apple any longer. An early-2009 Mac mini shipped with macOS 10.5.6 and a late-2009 Mac mini shipped with macOS 10.6, as 10.6.3 did not arrive until April 2010.

Those are only updaters for Snow Leopard (and Lion). I have Snow Leopard 10.6.3 Server install disk and then use that 10.6.8 updater (and other updaters that were still automatically online a few weeks ago).

Olet welcome :-)

p.s. Did you get the desired OS X 10.6? I use OS X 10.11 El Capitan in my (currently dad's) Mac mini late 2009 SSD, and use OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Server only in VMware Fusion 13.5 VM for MT-NewsWatcher 3.5.3b3 or nostalgia.

Try eBay. Notice that the Retail version might be cheaper but only the Server version is allowed to virtualize.

👍

That $315 Ebay pricing for 10.6.3 Snow Leopard Server DVD is a tad sobering…

Snow Leopard Retail cost 24 € from Apple Store at 2011.

Snow Leopard Server cost 29 € from eBay at 2013.

Good investment, huh.

Just a little gouging on Ebay…